Power News-Click: dated 26/01/2023

All info in this PPT is collected from various open sources available on the internet. If you feel, my views are wrong, Kindly neglect them & excuse me. I sincerely respect your views. Also excuse me for Typos, if any,

Complied By

Vijay L Sonavane

ME(Elect)

Date: 26 Jan 2023

AI electricity consumption grows 11% to 121.19 BU in Dec 22

• Amid the global slowdown due to pandemic & Russia-Ukraine war, the Indian economy has shown continued resilience & recent data on India's power consumption is clearly indicating that. AI power consumption has seen a growth of 11% & has reached 121.19 BU in Dec 2022 compared to Dec 21.
• As many parts of northern India are in a grip of chilling cold, the use of heating appliances is expected to increase & the growth figures are also indicating a rising trajectory of power consumption. Experts cite the above factors & believe that AI power consumptio is going to increase.
• There is a substantial rise in power Demd as in Dec 2022, which was 121.19BU & stood at 109.17 BU & 105.62 BU in Dec 2020.
• Highest supply of power in a day (MD) was 205.03 GW in Dec 2022. It was 183.24 GW in Dec 2021 & 182.78 GW in Dec 2020.
• MD met was 170.49 GW in Dec 2019 & AI consumption in Dec 2019 stood at 101.08 BU

NTPC Gen rises nearly 12% to 295 BU in Apr-Dec 2022

• NTPC recorded a Gen of 295.4 BU during APR-DEC 22, registering a growth of 11.6% compared to the APR-DEC 21. On a standalone basis, NTPC generated 254.6 BU during APR-DEC 2022, a 16.1% Y-O-Y rise. This assumes significance as NTPC supplies one-fourth of the electricity.
• Its coal-based THM power plants registered a PLF (plant load factor or capacity utilisation) of 73.7% for 9 months in FY23 (APR-DEC 2022) compared to 68.5% in APR-DEC 21
• NTPC's captive coal production remained at 14.6 MMT in the said period, with 51% Y-O-Y growth.
• NTPC group's installed capacity is 70,824 MW. Recently, NTPC has crossed 3 GW RE capacity .

NTPC capacity crosses 71 GW (24/01)

• India’s largest Genco, NTPC Group capacity crosses 71 GW with successful completion of trial operation of first unit of 660 MW North Karanpura STPP, Jharkhand (3x660 MW).
• Project has been envisaged with Air Cooled Condenser (ACC) which has 1/3rd water footprint as compared to Water Cooled Condenser (WCC).  The Project will provide affordable power to the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, WB, & Odisha & has a coal source within a 10-Km radius (Pit-head),.
• The foundation for this NTPC project in Jharkhand was laid by then-PM Vajpayee. This plant is based on one of the most efficient Supercritical Technology. With this, TTL NTPC’s installed capacity & of NTPC group has become 58929 MW & 71544 MW respectively.
• In view of India’s net zero goals, NTPC Group is also giving a major focus on RE. Recently, NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd. (NTPCREL) signed a MoU with Tripura Govt for development of floating & ground-mounted RE projects in the state. MoU aims to develop large-sized RE projects in Tripura & shall help Tripura in meeting its clean energy commitments.

IEX trade volume falls 7% to 8,452 MU in Dec 22

• TTL electricity trade volume on Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) registered a 9% MOM growth to 8,452 MU in Dec 22. IEX said the volume declined by 7% on YoY basis due to high REC traded volumes of 13.85 lakh in Dec 21.
• For Q3 of FY 2023, IEX has recorded 24.2 BU volume & achieved 5% QOQ growth across all its market segments.
• Continuing high spot e-auction coal prices & supply side constraints led to the AVG clearing price in the DAM rising to Rs. 5.23 in Dec 22, which was 14% higher on MoM basis & 48% higher on YoY rise. Improving coal inventory & onset of winters will lead to further price correction on PEX, providing cost optimization opportunities to discoms & OA consumers. Energy consumption stood at 121 BU during Dec 22, up 10% over DEC 21
• The DAM volume decreased from 5087 MU in Nov 2022 to 5001 MU in Dec 2022. The volume was lower by 8% on YoY basis due to high prices resulting from a constrained supply scenario. DAM achieved a cumulative trade of 14.4 BU in Q3 FY2023, registering a robust 30% QOQ growth. The market, however, declined 13% on YoY basis.
• Real-time RTE market (RTM) achieved 1,763 MU volume during Dec22, registering a 17% y-o-y growth. There were 678 participants in this segment during Dec 22. A total of 4.87 lakh RECs were cleared in the trading session at IEX held on Wed, Dec 28, 2022, as compared to 13.85 lakh RECs in Dec 2021

MOP asks Gencos to import up to 6% of required coal till Sep 23 (10/01)

• In a bid to avert a power crisis situation during summer months in 2023, MOP on 09/01 directed all Gencos to blend imported coal up to 6% of their requirement till Sept 23 to cover any shortages in local supply of the fuel. The move comes at a time as GOI expects a deficit of 24 MMT during first half of FY23-24.
• Import of coal for blending purpose needs to be done in a streamlined manner in order to avoid clogging of logistics.,
• Directive also noted that due to recent surge in Demd & consumption of electricity, share of coal-based Gen has increased. Although supply of coal from all sources has increased, it is not commensurate with requirements of THM plants, it said.
• "MoP, after consultation with CEA, MOC, MOR & Association of Power Producers (APP) has decided to direct all Gencos to import coal for blending 6% (by weight) for the remaining period of this current FY and H1 of the next FY (upto Sept 2023),
• MOP further said that Dom coal supply of those Gencos who do not follow these instructions shall be restricted to pro-rata basis.
• India witnessed severe crisis situations in Sept-Oct 21 & Apr-May 22.

(Impoted coal: Higher price: Cost of Gen will increase: Consumer ultimate sufferer)

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Policy in works to draw private sector into coal gasification (25/01)

• Coal Ministry is planning a policy framework to incentivise private sector cos. for developing Coal-Gasification projects. The Policy could be ready within 2 months, which aims at providing Capital subsidy, tax excumption & assured availability of coal
• While the current coal production in India is somewhat in line with demand, it is expected that with augmented production at Commercial Coal Mines, the supply of coal will increase in next couple of years. Coal gasification is a process thro’ which coal is broken down into its chemical constitution, resultant products can be synthetic natural gas, dimethyl ether & ammonium nitrate.
• Synthetic natural gas can be used as a substitute for LPG & for electricity Gen while dimethyl ether is an alternative to be used in diesel engines. The price fuel (gas) will be about 10% more compared with raw coal.
• GOI had launche a mission document for gassification 100 MMT Coal by 2030, since burning of gas is cleaner option compared of burning of coal. Some coal-gasification projects are already being implemented on a pilot basis by CIL

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(Good initiative by GOI)

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New coal transport mechanism may raise power cost up to 10% (16/01)

• Overall electricity cost is likely to rise by up to 10% when a fifth of a power plant's coal requirement is transported thro’ the 'rail-ship-rail' system. MOP had on 09/01 asked GUJ, RAJ, Maha, PUN as well as NTPC to transport 10-15% of their coal requirement thro’ a combination of land & sea route also caled as “Rail-Ship-Rail” Ship
• New coal transport mechanism was worked out because of logistical constraints of of direct rail movement and an anticipated increase in coal requirement in the coming Peak Demd Seasonof APR-MAY. Power cost will still be cheaper than that produced using imported coal
• New mode of transport will take coal from Coal India's mines to Paradip Port, from there, the coal will move to West Coast for various power plants, travelling a longer distance than the traditional direct Rail Route. Other measures like an increased gas supply to power plants, blending of imported coal & staggered power plant maintenance have also been planned by the power, coal, and MNRE ministries to meet upcoming power Demd.
• The likely supply of DOM coal during the first half of FY24 would be around 392 MMT leaving behind 24 MMT shortfall during the same period, MOP Said

New power subsidy policy for INDs in Marathwada & Vidarbha: DCM Fadnavis (09/01)

• In a bid to promote mining-based INDs, especially in Vidarbha & other mineral rich parts of Maha, GOM will soon announce the Mining Policy. Besides, GOM will also release Power Policy to provide concessions to IND in electricity tariff. These announcements were made by DCM Fadnavis. Proposed mining & power policies aim at further consolidating eco-system for mining based INDs in Vidarbha region.
• Fadnavis admitted tariff for IND in Maha is Rs 8.48 PU which is higher than prevailing tariff in MP (Rs 7.91 PU), AP, (Rs 7.37 PU) C’garh (Rs 6.95 PU) & GUJ (Rs 7.43 PU) but lower than TN (Rs 8.96 PU) & KAR (Rs 10.13). However, he asserted that it would not be proper to compare Maha’s power tariff with other States charged to IND consumers as there has been a huge difference in the availability of natural resources in every state.
• Fadnavis said: There are 4,55 Lakh IND consumers in Maha (15,063: HT & 4.40 Lakh LT IND). Maha has witnessed a 26% rise in power connection provided to IND consumers in 2021-22 compared to 2020-21. In FY 23, upto Nov 22, 14,699 connections were given to IND consumers
• "Ukraine-Russia war has created constraints in gas supply. The natural gas available in Qatar can be used after its conversion to revive the RGPPL project & for that GOM will take it up with GOI.

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UPPCL proposes 18% tariff hike for urban Dom consumers

• UPPCL has proposed a hike in electricity tariffs for Dom category of consumers by 18%-23% in FY 2023-24.
• UPPCL & its five subsidiaries on 09/01 filed the ARR Petition for 2023-24 with UPERC & has sought an Avg hike of 15.85% in tariff for next FY. Hike sought for IND consumers is 16%, for AG 10-12% & 17% for BPL or lifeline category of consumers.
• Power consumer organisation has questioned the ARR saying UPPCL has surplus of Rs 25,133 CR & it is duty bound to pass on the benefit to power consumers. Avadesh Verma, president of UP Power Consumer Forum, said instead of a hike UPERC should slash power tariff by 35% or 7% each year for next 5 years.
• Verma described ARR for 2023-24 as an unconstitutional Demd of relief in power tariff instead of hike as law of the land does not permit hike in tariff in view of the huge surplus of over Rs 25,000 CR with UPPCL.

• UPPCL, in the ARR, has projected the revenue requirement of Rs 92,547 CR & line loss of 14.9%. ARR has projected revenue gap of Rs 9,140 CR & cost of PP is estimated at Rs 1,34,751 CR. In the last tariff order announced in July 2022 there was no hike in power tariff for all categories of consumers for 2022-23.
• UPERC in July 2022 had directed UPPCL for 100% metering of power connections of existing & retired employees of UPPCL UPERC has computed it as a deemed revenue of Rs 422.50 CR from this head so that the burden is not borne by other power consumers.
• To check power theft, UPERC has directed UPPCL to expedite installation of 40 lakh smart meters. UPPCL has also been directed to submit technical/financial impact of the smart meter rollout on their system. UPPCL is yet to comply both diretctions

UP CM directs officials not to disconnect farmers' power connections due to non-payment of bills (11/01)

• UP CM Yogi directed officials not to disconnect farmers’ power connections due to non-payment of bills. His orders came while reviewing development works in Agra, Saharanpur, Azamgarh, Jhansi & Moradabad divisions with public representatives.
• Stating that protection of the interests of the ‘annadata’ (farmers) was Govt’s top priority, & that their electricity connections should not be disconnected due to non-payment of bills. Orders have also been issued by UPPCL in this regard.

Joshimath stares at power crisis; now as electricity poles tilt (21/01)

• DEHRADUN: Despite widespread land subsidence in Joshimath, power supply to the hill town had remained steady so far. But now with around 70 electric poles & some transformers having started to tilt, Uttarakhand Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL) officials have said that “plans are afoot to deal with a possible power supply issue in Joshimath”.
• UPCL MD Anil Kumar, on 20/01, said, “There is a of 33/11KV S/s located about 50m away from a water leakage area (due to an aquifer burst earlier). In a worst-case scenario, if it (the sub-station) sinks due to the subsidence then it will cause a loss of about Rs 22-23 CR. Having said that, we have already identified land in Selang village of Pipalkoti area, 6 km from Joshimath town where there can be a new setup. The entire shifting process would cost UPCL around Rs 10 CR. This includes installation of 33 KV lines & 11 KV feeders.”
• “Due to subsidence, 60 to 70 electric poles & 10-12 DTs have tilted, posing risk of short circuits in the affected houses. We have rushed our workforce to repair them to ensure uninterrupted power supply there.”
• “Before subsidence was reported, there were around 2,500 consumers in Joshimath, both R&C. At present, some consumers have been moved to safer places. The Power supply has been stopped only to their establishments for safety reasons. Those still staying in town are being provided with 24x7 power.”

Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (JBSS) blames NTPC for land subsidence (16/01)

• Atul Sati President Joshimath JBSS blamed NTPC’s Tapowan HEP for land subsidence here in this Uttarakhand town. JBSS said that people continue to be in a state of panic after hundreds of houses, shops & other establishments were impacted by land subsidence.
• Those demonstrating have demanded that the work on Vishnugad project be stopped immediately. They also submitted that NTPC should be held responsible for the disaster & should be fined for it.
• JBSS said that for the last 20 years, NTPC Vishnugad project has been opposed by people as they feared that it would have adverse effects on Joshimath. GOI is hiding facts from the public. ISRO has also removed the report from its official site on the request of a minister," one of the demonstrators said.
• Sati said Vishnugad project is worth Rs 10,000 CR, & by imposing a fine of Rs 20,000 CR on NTPC, the amount should be distributed among the people of Joshimath. He sent a memorandum in this regard to the GOI on 14/01. He demanded high-powered committee be constituted so that an apt decision towards construction of "new Joshimath" & for the displacement of the affected people can be taken.

Guj: No power tariff hike proposed for 2023-24 (06/01)

• In a major relief to Residential, Comm, AG, & IND consumers , all four state-run GUJ Discoms have proposed no tariff hike for upcoming FY 23-24. All Discoms are required to submit tariff Applications to GERC
• This is the sixth consecutive year that state-run discoms have not proposed a tariff hike despite coal price Hike.
• Decision was taken as the consolidated revenue shortfall for all four discoms is estimated to be Rs 1207 CR, which can be met through efficiency improvements, as cited in the Petitions. The last time that GERC approved a power tarrif hike for state-run discoms was in FY 2015-16

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(I need to study how no tariff rise is possible in Guj Discoms & why Maha Discom submitted a petition with almost > 20% tariff rise)

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DERC drafts cut in Return On Equity (ROE) for companies, Power discoms fume (23/01)

• According to draft DERC (Business Plan) Regulations 2023, put out 20/01 for stakeholder comments, the ROE is to be reduced to 10% from 16% for all the 3 segments in DEL's electricity value chain, a move that could potentially reduce tariffs but will certainly be legally challenged since it violates the basic condition of privatisation & by Private put viability of DEL’s power sector into question.
• Comments are invited upto 14^th Feb 2023. DERC also published drafts of amendments to regulations for tariff determination, RPO & RE Certificates Regulations are to be valid for 3 FYs upto 31 Mar 2026
• DERC’s proposal defies 15.5% ROE prescribed by CERC, for Genco & Transco. Reduced ROE will hurt DELs two gas-fired power plants: GTPS & Pragati-I – as well as Transco.
• But it is the impact on discoms, IND players said, that will ultimately hurt the consumers by hitting maintenance, infra upgrade & power sourcing capability. Some experts say” DERC’s proposal, if approved, will derail further reforms towards having multiple players in a circle. “No company will be intersted in Dist Business”

(As on date no bussiness has such high return (16%), So it’s a good move, which will reduce tariffs for consumers)

No penalty on power consumers for higher load after prepaid smart metering: RK Singh

• Power minister RKS has chaired a review meeting with power utilities & stressed on need to address inefficiencies in Dist sector with priority on reduction of losses, maintaining proper subsidy accounts, EA & to ensure prepaid smart metering implementation to enhance revenue realization & thereby avoiding undesirable borrowings.
• States were further advised to ensure that no penalty be levied on any consumer for higher load discovered, after installation of prepaid smart meter & billing may be done on actual load basis.
• During the meeting held on Jan 23-24, status of RDSS launched by Govt to enhance operation efficiency to ensure financial viability of Dist sector was discussed & state-wise progress of RDSS was deliberated in detail.
• He appreciated efforts made by all stakeholders in addressing AT&C loss in India which has resulted in overall reduction of AT&C losses by 5% in FY 2021-22. Singh recognized the efforts made by states, who have achieved > 3% reduction in AT&C losses from FY 2020-21 to FY 2021-22, & appreciated initiatives taken to meet such reduction. These states include AP, HAR, Jharkhand, KAR, MP, Maha, Meghalaya, PUN, RAJ, Tripura & WB

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India added 11 GW of utility-scale solar capacity in 2022: Study (14/01)

• From Jan 2022 till Dec 2022, 13,956 MW solar capacity & 1,847 MW wind capacity was added in India. This is about 17.5% & 26.6%, respectively, higher compared to 2021.
• According MNRE data India’s RE installation capacity reached 120.85 GW. Solar energy contributes for approximately 52% share in the TTL RE segment, making it the major contributor followed by wind energy (35%), Bio Power (9%) & Small HYD (4%). Share of solar has increased by 5 percentage points in last 1 year.
• From Jan-Dec 2022, about 11.3 GW of new utility-scale solar capacity was added in India. Compared to Jan-Dec 2021 period, installations are about 47% higher.
• In the rooftop solar segment, about 1.9 GW is added in the last 12 months, this is about 42% lesser than 2021 installations. While in offgrid/ distributed solar segment, nearly 700 MW was added which is about 50% lesser than 2021 installations.
• In wind sector, about 1.85 GW new capacity was added during Jan-Dec 2022, which is 26% higher than 1.46 GW capacity added during Jan-Dec 2021.
• RAJ,GUJ &TN were the leading States with most of the large-scale solar installations in 2022. While GUJ led the installations with the commissioning of more than 1600 MW of new wind projects in this period.

India missed 175 GW RE capacity target by 30%: Bridge to India Report (05/01)

• India's RE capacity, exclusing large hydro, is expected to have touched 122 GW by Dec 2022 against ' target of 175 GW: a deficit of 30%: consultancy firm Bridge to India said.
• Annual solar & wind capacity addition has averaged at about 9 GW over the last 5 years against the target of 19 GW. Wind capacity growth has suffered particularly badly since transition to competition to Competitive bidding in 2017 with avg capacity addition of 2 GW/year. Solar capacity has grown more consistently The sector has been somewhat muddling along recently in absence of policy stability & proactive long-term planning.
• GOI has adopted extremely ambitious target of 500 GW RE by 2030, so we will need to add 36 GW/year, 2023 is expected to be a very slow year as many projects are being postponed due to lack of domestically manufactured modules.
• GOI needs to work on four key issues: encourage demand from states, address land & T/L bottlenecks, improve integrity of bidding process & provide policy certainty to Corporate & residential RE market
• Most states seem reluctant to buy more RE power despite strong policy thrust, growing Demd & low cost. 25 of the 30 States had adopted RPO Targets lower than GOI target of 21.2% for FY 2022. It added that initiatives such as solar parks, Green Energy corridors, RE Zones have faced extensive delays & cost overruns, and almost all utility scale projects caute land & Trans Challenges delaying the execution

Mumbai girl’s startup produces power from streams, canals (12/01)

• A startup by a young Mumbai engineer could help remote villages in backward areas like Gadchiroli & Melghat to have uninterrupted power supply. Many villages in these areas either lack power supply since Independence, or receive irretic supply.
• Swati Maini, a mechanical engineer from Drexel University, USA, has made a mini turbine that can generate power from the existing water streams or canals. She developed this device during the pandemic at College of Engineering Pune (COEP) She also patented her device under the head ‘turbines & associated components, Systems & Methods’.
• She worked abroad for 10 years before coming back to India to work on this technology. She has launched her start up “Maini Renewables”
• “We have fitted a Gen above the rotor, which would rotate with the help of water flow & generate Electricity. Wind & Solar have their limitations, but this source could be unlimited provided continuous power supply. This device could also be used for inland waterways as well. Her objective was reaching to unreached araes in India. She had got it tested from IIT Roorkee. It could be one of the most efficient source of RE. It could be used for canals & dam waters

(I salute Ms Swati Maini for her untiring efforts. Very happy that She has carried out the Experiment at COEP Pune, my college)

Tata Power Renewables Ltd (TPREL) to set up India's first residential Group Captive solar (11/01)

• TPREL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Power, has signed an agreement with Vivarea Condominium, a residential society in Mumbai, to supply solar power.
• In a first, a 3.125 MW solar plant will be set up at Himayatnagar, Maharashtra, to power the society with clean energy. “TPREL will undertake the construction, O&M of this captive solar power plant, which is expected to generate about 7.5 MU energy & offset 6.15MT carbon in the first year itself,
• With installation of this group captive solar plant, TPREL will enable Vivarea Condominium to become India ’s first residential society to use captive solar energy for Dom usage.
• “Vivarea Condominium will be getting green power at roughly 40% less than the existing tariff.
• TPREL has a portfolio of 10 GWp of ground-mounted utility-scale solar projects & over 1.3 GW RTS & distributed Gen project. TPREL also operates a manufacturing unit in Bangalore, with a production capacity of 1,135 MW of modules & cells.

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Nashik Municipal Corporation plans to set up 52 EV charging stns (24/01)

• Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has set a March 23 end deadline to set up 52 EV charging Stns in the City.
• NMC has already identified locations for the charging stations. Also as many as 35 Charging stns, would be set up by using funds received under the National Clean Air Program (N-CAP). NMC has already received Rs 10 CR for setting of charging stns under N-CAP.
• UNDP has also agreed to provide funds for balanced 22 Charging Stns. UNDP is helping several countries in various sectors, including key areas of energy efficiency & climate change mitigation.
• There has been steady rise in No of EVs in Nasik City. NMC has prepared an ambitious plan of setting up 106 EV charging stations across city in phases.

Modhera village (GUJ) | Solar powered (07/01)

• Ajaysingh Solanki, a 21-year-old mechanical engineer, is hoping to welcome the summer this year with an air conditioner, a ‘luxury’ that until now hardly anyone in his village could afford.
• On the terrace of his modest one-storey house: Solanki's is a joint family of 20: in Modhera village in Guj’s Mehsana Dist are items that are common for a typical rural household in India: pickles & spices laid out under the sun, a clothesline, an occasional straw mat.
• Among these, however, are also four shiny solar panels of 1 KW each that the members of the house take turns to clean. Nobody is complaining, though.
• Installed just about a year ago, with no hefty down-payment. these solar panels are the reason behind an extra Rs 500 Solanki is now able to save every month because of the significant reduction in his monthly electricity bill. He hopes that the money will help with his sisters’ education.
• Others in Modhera have similar stories to share. For some households, in fact, electricity is now entirely free of cost

India in top 7 Nations with prospective RE power (25/01)

• India ranks among the top 7 countries in the world with most prospective RE power, according to a new analysis by San Francisco-based NGO Global Energy Monitor. India also plans to add 76 GW of utility-scale solar & wind power by 2025, leading to savings of up to $19.5 Bn a year.
• This build out can avoid the use of almost 78 MMT of coal annually, or roughly 32 GW in coal power plant capacity. Annual savings in India can skyrocket if the coal-to-clean switch matches India’s ambitions.
• It further highlights that if India were to bring on line all of its planned utility-scale solar & wind projects, it would cost India around $51 Bn. “But with a $19.5 Bn annual savings in direct fuel costs, India could pay for this in just 2.5 years,” the analysis adds.
• India accounts for 5% of all prospective utility-scale solar power globally, trailing only China, USA & Australia while placing 17th globally in prospective wind power capacity.
• “Save money, slash emissions: India’s switch from coal to clean power is only going to be a win-win. A promising step towards meeting the country’s net zero emissions target by 2070, India will be richer & cleaner by quitting coal,” says Shradhey Prasad, project manager Global Wind Power Tracker.

Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s AC electric buses start plying on six routes (11/01)

• In a move aimed at reducing carbon emission & air pollution, the Nagpur MC (NMC) on 09/01 launched 15 fully AC Electric buses on city Roads. Electric AC buses have started plying on 6 routes. Routes for 3 buses are being finalised & they too will start plying within a couple of days. On 09/01 NMC also introduced 40 electric buses procured from a Hyderabad based firm.
• With this, the number of eco-friendly Aapli Buses plying in Nagpur city & mofussil area has increased to 131, including 71 CNG operated & 60 Electric buses, 15 more AC electric buses will join the Aapli Bus fleet in Feb 23. “Operation of buses that were converted to CNG from diesel had been badly affected due to erratic supply of Natural Gas.
• Fares of this AC buses will remain the same as diesel operated Min fare is Rs 12 while max fare is Rs 53/-

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MoHUA ropes in QCI to conduct audit of security infrastructure in 12 smart cities (13/01)

• GOI has ordered an audit of safety & security-related infrastructure created in 12 Smart Cities. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has ordered the assessment of infrastructure created for citizen safety at public places in 12 smart cities: Agartala, Agra, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Nagpur, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Pimpri Chinchwad, Prayagraj, Rourkela, Surat & Varanasi.
• The decision was taken following a discussion at Cabinet meeting on 4 Jan 2023, over the gruesome incident of a young girl being dragged for a distance after being hit by a car in Delhi on New Year eve. The closed circuit TV (CCTV) camera footage had helped the police piece together the sequence of events & track the victim;s friend who had abondoned her,
• MoHUA has roped in Quality Council of India (QCI) to conduct the exercise QCI teams, which will travel to the 12 cities & examine streetlighting, traffic management & CCTV Infrastucture.

(Proactive step by MoHUA).

SC stays HC order awarding two-month jail term to NTPC Chairman in contempt Case (07/01)

• Supreme Court on 06/01 stayed the TEL HC order awarding two-month jail term to the NTPC Chairperson in a contempt case. A bench comprising CJ DY Chandrachud & Justices PS Narasimha & JB Pardiwala took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the NTPC Chief, that the high court order needed to be stayed.
• “We are staying the HC order,” the bench said. On 31 Dec , the TEL HC sentenced Mr Gurudip Singh, CMD NTPC in a contempt case. Earlier during the day, the SC agreed to hear the appeal of Gurdeep Singh
• “This is the case in which NTPC Chairperson has been awarded 2 months’ jail term in a contempt case relating to appointments of some non-executive employees,” the law officer had submitted in the forenoon. “We will hear it,” the bench had said & asked the Law Officer to provide 3 copies of the petitions for the judges.
• Earlier the TEL HC on 31/12 sentenced Gurdeep Singh, CMD NTPC, to two months in jail in a contempt case. A division bench of Justice Shameem Akther & Justice N Tukaram charged Gurdeep & his Secunderabad-based GM HR Manikanth of willfully disobeying a lawful order and fined them Rs 2000 each.
• The two administrators were accused of not adhering to the court’s order to deliver justice to those who lost their land to the NTPC unit in Ramagundam 42 years ago.

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• The Bench did not find the apology “sincere” from the officials & that it was just an attempt to escape from the contempt case. The bench, however, suspended the judgment for six weeks to allow the duo to avail of legal remedy to mitigate their sentence.

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About Mr Gurdeep Singh:

• Mr. Singh is a businessperson who has been at the helm of 6 different companies. Presently, he occupies the position of CMD NTPC (from 4 Feb 2016) , BHEL Power Projects Pvt Ltd. Mr. Singh is also on the board of Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Co. Pvt Ltd. & Chair-Stewardship Board at World Economic Forum (India) & Chairman-Energy & Resource Efficiency at The Business 20.
• Earlier, Gurdeep Singh occupied the position of CMD North Eastern Electric Power Corp. Ltd., Chairman of NTPC Electric Supply Co. Ltd., Chairman of NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd., MD Gujarat State Electricity Corp. Ltd. & Co-Chairman-Energy & Materials Platform at Forum Mondial de L'Economie.
• Gurdeep Singh received an undergraduate degree from National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra.

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PAK suffers major power outage after grid failure (24/01)

• Pakistan faced a major power breakdown on 23 Jan due to a "frequency variation" in the National grid, leaving millions of people in large parts of PAK, including capital Islamabad & financial hub Karachi, without electricity.
• According to Ministry of Energy, the system of frequency of the National grid went down at 7.34 a.m. local time, resulting in the breakdown. “System maintenance work is progressing rapidly,”.
• "I can assure you that power will be fully restored across the country within the next 12 hours,” Power Minister was quoted as saying by Geo News. Explaining the failure, he said the authorities shut the power Gen system at night due to lower Demd in winter to save fuel costs.
• But when the systems were turned on in the morning, “frequency variation & voltage fluctuation” were observed in south of the country… somewhere between Dadu & Jamshoro” resulting in shutting down of Gen units one by one,” he said.

• People in Karachi woke up on Monday, 23^rd Jan with no electricity available anywhere in the metropolis. Shopkeeper& workers waited for electric power at a market following a power breakdown across the country, in Lahore on Jan 23, 2023.
• According to details, the major power breakdown also hit other cities across PAK but Karachi was the worst affected. In Peshawar, a city of over 2.3 million people, some people were reportedly unable to get drinking water as the pumps were powered by electricity. It is not the first time that the country has faced such a crisis.
• In Oct 22, PAK witnessed a 12-hour power outage due to technical glitches in the electricity Dist system.
• Pakistan is grappling with one of the country's worst economic crises in recent years amid dwindling foreign exchange reserves. The crisis forced Govt earlier this month to order shopping malls & markets to close by 8.30 p.m. for energy conservation purposes.
• The sorry state of PAK's power sector is emblematic of its ailing economy. Power outages occur frequently due to lack of funds to upgrade aging infrastructure.

Nepal-Bangladesh may be allowed to trade power through Indian corridor (23/01)

• Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has sought approval from the Indian authorities to export 40-50 MW electricity to Bangladesh thro’ India's existing Trans infrastructure, in line with an agreement reached between Nepal & Bangladesh in Aug 22, by utilising the Baharampur-Bheramara cross-border Trans link.
• As per the understanding reached during the secretary-level Joint Steering Committee (JSC) formed for Nepal-Bangladesh energy cooperation, the NEA & Bangladesh Power Development Board would request India’s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam for a trilateral energy sales & purchase agreement utilising the power line.
• The Nepali side had held discussions with the officials of PGCIL. “They told us that the Baharampur-Bheramara line is fully occupied & there is no extra capacity to accommodate Nepal’s power through the line.
• Although Bangaladesh imports 1,160MW electricity from India, their requirement is more. Nepal & India intend to widen collaboration in the power sector & include partner nations under the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India Nepal ) framework,

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